UFC on FOX 5 Results: 5 Fights for Mike Swick to Take Next

Mike Swick (right) was knocked out on Saturday for the first time since 2004.
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Mike Swick is back in the UFC, but he got outgunned on Saturday by a staunch opponent in fellow veteran Matt Brown, who now rides an impressive four-fight winning streak.

It seems like forever ago that Swick held a 4-0 streak of his own in the welterweight division, dropping from light heavyweight to run through Ben Saunders, Jonathan Goulet, Marcus Davis and Josh Burkman.

Now, he's 1-3 in his last four fights, looking particularly thin and wobbly en route to his UFC on Fox 5 defeat.

Is there still a title contender buried somewhere inside Swick? Maybe not, but at the very least, it's time to measure just what Mr. "Quick" has left to offer the division with these five fights.

Yoshihiro Akiyama

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Gutsy performances aside, Sexyama is in a bad spot amongst the UFC roster.

Even with three back-to-back "Fight of the Night" bonuses in his UFC career, the judo master is still 1-4 since joining the promotion over three years ago.

True, a loss to Jake Shields comes with an asterisk due to Shields testing positive for banned substances one fight later, but speculation won't change the records.

As it stands now, pitting Swick and Akiyama against each other makes sense as an opener on a future main card, both as a challenge for Swick to earn his keep and bringing up a beatable opponent for the marketable Akiyama, who still looks drained at 170 pounds.

Stephen Thompson

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Stephen Thompson's hype train derailed as soon as it got started, and the "Wonderboy" is currently sitting out with a knee injury.

Although he may not be near Swick's level yet, Thompson shares the common thread of a loss to Matt Brown, which makes enough sense to pit the two fighters against each other.

Like Brown, Swick represents an interesting style matchup for the multiple-time kickboxing champion due to his own stand-up and well-rounded ground game.

It's definitely not a "gimme" fight, but it's not an insulting proposition, either. And even though Thompson is still a prospect, defeating him will still look good on Swick's comeback trail.

Amir Sadollah

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One common habit with UFC matchmaking is battles between Ultimate Fighter veterans, with Amir Sadollah being a constant footnote on many cards.

Moreover, his 6-4 record is deceptive, considering that he's only fought in the UFC.

But although the TUF 7 winner has etched out a position as a solid gatekeeper within the company, he's still a decent test for fighters that are supposed to outclass the Iranian on paper.

Swick's both a competitor on the original season of TUF and an upper-level journeyman, so he's precisely the type of fighter that the UFC would throw to Sadollah for a gut check.

Matt Riddle vs. Che Mills Loser

Pictured: Matt Riddle
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Matt Riddle and Che Mills have an upcoming bout at UFC on Fuel TV 7 amid a card full of "England vs. America" matchups.

If Riddle wins, expect him to get another tough Englishman in his continuing war against "butter-toothed Brits" on a future card.

If Mills wins, he'll move ahead in the welterweight pack as a staple for European events.

But whoever loses this fight will be in need of a solid opponent with a bit of a name, and Mike Swick could make for an entertaining opponent against either man.

Paulo Thiago

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Like Swick, "Sam the Eagle" is another welterweight workhorse who was once thought to be the next title contender in the stacked division.

But with a 1-4 record in his last five fights, it's hard to see Thiago as an elite member of the deeply talented 170-pound club anymore.

So what's left for him if he sticks to his UFC career?

Why not a rematch with Swick? It's a significant fight for "Quick" in the sense that he'll get a chance to avenge his first career back-to-back defeat and submission loss.